Back for Business, the free government programme that helps returned emigrants start and develop businesses in Ireland, is now open to applications.
The programme, which is funded by the Irish Abroad Unit, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, was created to foster and support entrepreneurial activity among emigrants recently returned to Ireland or are still living abroad but thinking of returning to Ireland.
Back for Business is now seeking offers of interest from eligible candidates hoping to return or who have already returned to Galway.
To qualify, applicants must be returned Irish emigrants who lived abroad for at least a year and have returned to Ireland in the last three years, or are currently living abroad with plans to return to Ireland in the near future.
This is the ninth year of the programme and those eligible have until Friday, January 16th, to apply through www.backforbusiness.com The programme will begin with a Launch Forum and round table event on February 13th, 2026, and will conclude in June. Up to 50 places are available.
Back for Business has a proven track record of helping entrepreneurs who are returned emigrants to significant grow sales and increase employment. Since launching in 2017, the initiative has helped early-stage entrepreneurs address common challenges faced by emigrants who have been living away from Ireland.
Some 100% of those who completed last year’s programme, Back for Business 8, reported they would recommend the programme to others and would like to stay in contact with the Back for Business community.
Participants on Back for Business 9 will meet once a month on a peer-supported round table, facilitated by voluntary Lead Entrepreneurs, who have experience of successfully starting and growing a business. Many of them have also lived abroad before returning to Ireland to start their business.
This year’s Lead Entrepreneurs are: Gillian O’Dowd, Director at Azon; Paul Duggan of The Gardiner Group; Seamus Reilly, co-founder and formerly of Critical Healthcare; Sinéad Doherty, founder and CEO of Fenero; and Thomas Ennis, founder of the Thomas Ennis Group.
Former participants from Co. Galway include Orlaith Kilgannon, Paul Herrick and Ronan Purcell. Having experienced at first hand the benefits of participation in Back for Business, they encourage others to apply for the programme.
Orlaith Kilgannon is the Director and Specialist Physiotherapist of Pelvic Health West. Based in Oranmore, Pelvic Health West provides specialist physiotherapy and Pilates for women to prevent and manage symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction. On the Back for Business programme, Orlaith found that the peer support from other participants who were having similar experiences was a great help to her. “My experience in Back for Business working with a diverse range of entrepreneurs has allowed me to structure both short and long term realistic and achievable goals to scale my business. Surrounded by those who had also returned home in recent years and experienced similar challenges was comforting. Through Back for Business, I achieved my short-term goals with the development of an online booking system and an online course of Pilates in turn optimising financial security. Long term, I will grow my own team but my Back for Business team have inspired me to keep dreaming and believing in my vision for Pelvic Health West and women’s health in the future.”
Paul Herrick had been in Madrid for more than 20 years when he decided in 2020 to move back to Ireland to grow his own venture – Arco Irish, an executive search business that enhances talent acquisition for fast-growing Irish SME businesses with international ambition. He says: “Back for Business helps participants unlock the opportunities for returning diaspora and ensures they are fully equipped to bring their international know how and networks to the Irish market. The mix of networking, peer group support and plenary sessions over a six month period ensures returning entrepreneurs not only become aware of the full range resources available but that they also develop an additional support network who they can brain storm, ideate and share challenges with.”
Ronan Purcell and his wife decided to move back to Ireland in 2021 when the eldest of their three sons was ready to start school and Ronan set up Fort Energy, a specialist energy advisor and renewable energy developer. Ronan says: “Back for Business is an excellent programme that provides invaluable support, advice and a test bed to progress your business to the next stage. As an entrepreneur, you are given an opportunity to pitch, and stress test your products to a diverse, supportive and insightful group on a monthly basis which gives your start up an edge going to market. The Lead Entrepreneur was excellent, and it is such a unique and privileged opportunity to get so much time with them.”
